Be it workstations or laptops, even highly popular devices with the most sophisticated processors decelerate these days when a few applications are executed. 4k videos, graphic-intense files and video games could really dampen the performances of some of the systems you own. A wise approach is to rely on an external SSD to play such files seamlessly.However, considering the deluge in such portable storage devices across online platforms and retail outlets, choosing the best external portable SSD could turn out to be quite a task.
This compilation of best external portable SSD should hopefully help you choose a good device soon.
Our Top 3 Picks
Best External Portable SSDs – Comparative Table
| Product Name | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
| WD 8TB My Book Duo | 6.3 x 3.94 x 7.09 inches | 5.18 Pounds | Click Here for Price |
| 3.3 x 3.3 x 0.6 inches | 3.52 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
| SeaGate Barracuda SSD | 3.96 x 2.75 x 0.28 inches | 1.76 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
Samsung 2 TB External Solid State Drive
| 2.26 x 0.41 x 2.91 inches | 1.8 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
| 3.79 x 1.95 x 0.35 inches | 1.38 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
| 4.7 x 0.8 x 2.4 inches | 5.3 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
| 0.67 x 2.56 x 3.85 inches | 3.52 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
ADATA SE800 External Portable SSD
| 6.22 x 4.96 x 1.02 inches | 1.41 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
| VisionTek 512GB Thunderbolt 3 Portable External SSD | 6 x 4.26 x 0.6 inches | 10.4 Ounces | Click Here for Price |
WD 8TB My Book Duo
Product Highlights
There are a very few brands that manufacture digital storage equipment as well as Western Digital (WD) does. The extraordinary capacity and speed of this SSD makes it worth the money.
Best Features
A feature to look forward from this WD SSD is its USB 3.0 and 3.1 Gen compatibility. The manufacturers have employed RAID data storage virtualization technology, which is a standard very few SSDs comply with. Apart from the SSD itself, you also get USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables along with the package.
As a data security measure, WD has ensured My Book Duo has offered a 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption ability and an exclusive Security software.
What We Like About the WD 8TB My Book Duo
Adhering to the RAID standard doesn’t just ensure efficient storage, but also serves the purposes of data redundancy and performance improvement. The RAID red drives you get along with this SSDs is a testament to its capability. The manufacturers are offering a 3-year limited warranty along with this product. If at all you have concerns about product quality, this warranty should stop you from fretting over degrading product quality.
What We Don’t Like About the WD 8TB My Book Duo
Several users have opined that the support software isn’t reliable and the product isn’t long-lasting.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Complies with RAID data storage virtualization technology standard 3-year warranty | Not long-lasting |
ADATA SD700 3D NAND 1 TB SSD
Product Highlights
If you are looking for a 1 TB SSD that’s pretty reasonable and lightning-fast, ADATA SD700 is an option worth considering.
Best Features
This military-grade device is shockproof, and has a read/write speed of up to 440 Mb/s. The product adheres to the IP68 standard, which implies it is dust and waterproof. The SSD is compatible with a range of operating systems too, including, Mac, Windows, as well as Android. So, the concern of incompatibility doesn’t arise.
What We Like About The ADATA SD700 3D NAND 1 TB SSD
Its impressive read/write speed implies that the ADATA SD700 is at least four times faster than many of its contemporaries. It also emits less noise and is far more power-efficient as compared to several devices of its kind.
What We Don’t Like About The ADATA SD700 3D NAND 1 TB
It has been found that the wire connecting the SSD to a computer system is faulty and not long-lasting. There have been issues of frequent disconnection and reconnection in the past.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Read/write speed faster than many other SSDs Compatible with several operating systems | Connectivity cable isn’t durable |
SeaGate Barracuda SSD
Product Highlights
Any discussion of storage drives is perhaps incomplete without mentioning a SeaGate product. The BarraCuda SSD is pretty much a gamer’s delight thanks to its exceptional speed.
Best Features
This SSD has a read/write speed of 560 Mb/s, which facilitates seamless multi-tasking. The battery also has been engineered for a longer life as compared to other similar storage drives.
What We Like About The SeaGate Barracuda SSD
SeaGate is offering a five-year warranty along with the BarraCuda SSD, which is perhaps the highest free service and replacement duration being offered currently. The read/write speed too is unparalleled, which is perhaps why it is an ideal drive to rely on for gaming and graphic-intense applications.
What We Don’t Like About The SeaGate Barracuda SSD
Although the device is compatible with several operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Android, the BarraCuda needs to be cloned and boot partitioned. While this task isn’t too difficult for an IT professional or a tech-savvy individual, people who aren’t too good at gadgets might have a hard time cloning the device.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Five-year warranty Read/write speed of 560 Mb/s | Exclusive, operating-system cloning is required |
Samsung 2 TB External Solid State Drive
Product Highlights
One of Samsung’s latest inventions, this 2 TB external SSDs is sleek, compact, and light too, apart from being exceptionally fast.
Best Features
Made of metal, the unibody of this Samsung drive easily fits into the size of any adult palm and is quite portable too. The makers offer intuitive software that is compatible with most operating systems and can be used to create passwords and receive software updates, if any.
What we like about the Samsung 2 TB External Solid State Drive
This SSD is as compact as a business card and fits easily even in a pocket, which is why portability and space occupancy can never be concerns. The product is resistant to damage, even when dropped from a height of say 2 meters. As far as data security is concerned, Samsung has included features to prevent breaches or loss of any kind.
What we don’t like about the Samsung 2 TB External Solid State Drive
The device is a bit expensive as compared to several other SSDs available today. However, if the cost isn’t too much of a concern and Samsung is one of your preferred brands, you could opt for this product.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Compact and sleek Sophisticated data security | Quite expensive |
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
Product Highlights
SanDisk’s USB drives have been popular globally over the years, and yet again, the brand has proved its finesse by introducing its 1 TB portable external SSD. Quite resistant to external damages, SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD is very fast and best suited for gaming and watching movies.
Features
This IP55-rated SSD is water and dust-resistant, which rules out any possibility of damage due to factors such as moisture. Moreover, it has a read/write speed of 550 mb/s, which is the highest among SSDs of its kind.
What We Like About The SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
The impeccable read/write speed is undoubtedly this SanDisk external SSD’s greatest advantage. So, if you’ve been looking for an SSD to store movies and photos, you couldn’t have asked for anything better. The makers are also offering a 3-year warranty along with this SSD, which is a great advantage.
The coolest part is you can order this device by just merely saying “Alexa, order SanDisk external SSD”, it’s as simple as that.
What We Don’t Like About The SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
In a short period since its release, a few users had complained of their files either being corrupted or going missing entirely. However, this behavior is inconsistent.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Impressive read/write speed Perfect for saving and editing hi-res photos and videos Great design | Data security issues |
Samsung X5 Portable SSD
Product highlights
The Samsung X5 Portable SSD complies with the latest technological trends, has a highly impressive design, and is far superior in performance as compared to many of its contemporaries.
Features
The product adheres to THUNDERBOLT 3 and NVMe Power standards, and has a data transfer speed of 40 Gb/s. The most noteworthy feature of the Samsung X5 Portable SSD is its sequential read and write speeds of 2800 MB/s and 2300 MB/s, which is ideal for graphic-intense applications. The makers have offered an option to create a password as well as an AES 256-bit hardware encryption feature, which are impressive data security measures.
It is important to ensure the latest firmware/BIOS is installed in the SSD for it to work perfectly.
What We Like About The Samsung X5 Portable SSD
The read/write speeds of this SSD makes the X5 one of the fastest devices of its kind in the world today. The fact that the gadget complies with the AES 256-bit data security standard, makes it one of the most top-notch SSDs available. In addition, the makers are offering a 3-year warranty too. All the factors mentioned above are enough reasons why you should buy this cool product.
What We Don’t Like About The Samsung X5 Portable SSD
The Samsung X5 Portable SSD is quite costly and not suited for those on a shoe-string budget. However, if you are willing to overlook the cost aspect, the device is totally worth the investment.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightning fast Impressive data security | Costly |
LaCie Rugged SSD
Product Highlights
The LaCie Rugged SSD is pretty much a filmmaker and video editor’s delight since it is ideal for the storage and processing high-resolution raw footage.
Features
The product is IP67-rated, which implies it isn’t just resistant to dust and moisture, but also durable enough to not break when dropped from a height of three meters. As a part of the package LaCie also offers USB-C (USB 3.1 10GB/s) cable, USB-C to USB-A cable (USB 3.0 compatible), as well as a quick install guide.
What We Like About The LaCie Rugged SSD
2 TB of space is enough capacity to store at least 65 hours of compressed footage shot at 30 fps (frames per second), especially if they are of the 4K kind. LaCie also offers Rescue Data Recovery Services for a span of five years, which prevents any sort of damage caused due to unforeseen crashes.
The makers are offering a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud along with this product to get access to a range of photo and video editing apps.
What We Don’t Like About The LaCie Rugged SSD
Quite a few customers have complained of no warranty being offered along with the product. There have been instances of users spending on repairs since the first instance of wear-and-tear.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ideal for editing 4K videos Rescue Data Recovery Services | Warranty not reliable |
ADATA SE800 External Portable SSD
Product Highlights
Quite affordable and technically brilliant, the SE800 is an impressive ADATA invention that could be one of the top priorities in your SSDs-to-consider list.
Best Features
The device includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C interface, and is compatible with USB 2.0 too. The device offers Read/Write speeds of up to 1000 MB/s, which is quite high. Since it is IP68-rated, the SE800 is less susceptible to damage that could be caused due to dust and moisture.
What We Like About The ADATA SE800 External Portable SSD
Considering its price, the features of this gadget are quite impressive and it is pretty fast too. The 3-year warranty being offered along with the SE800 assures the product will last for a long duration. The SE800 is definitely one of the best external portable SSDs that can be considered.
What We Don’t Like About The ADATA SE800 External Portable SSD
Speed has been found to be inconsistent as compared to other similar devices.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quite cheap 3-year warranty Compact and portable | Inconsistent speed |
VisionTek 512GB Thunderbolt 3 Portable External SSD
Product Highlights
Powered by Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology, this external SSD is quite compact, highly-compatible, and easy to install.
Best Features
This SSD can be easily detected by both MacOS as well as Windows-powered devices alike. This fact implies VisionTek is compatible with a wide range of devices you own. As compact as a card, this SSD measures around 2. 5 x 4. 25 x 6 inches, which makes it highly portable too.
What We Like About The VisionTek 512GB Thunderbolt 3 Portable External SSD
The VisionTek 512GB Thunderbolt 3 Portable External SSD is at least 15 times faster than many popular HDDs of today, since it offers a read/write speed of around 1700 MB/s. Once you own this SSD, you’d also be backed by a Lifetime US-based support.
What We Don’t Like About The VisionTek 512GB Thunderbolt 3 Portable External SSD
When used with iMac, there have been complaints of the device not being detected. Although inconsistent, this behavior has been observed when Apple-powered devices wake up from sleep mode.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Read/write speed of 1700 MB/s Intel Thunderbolt 3 Technology | Issues with iMac |
We hope this compilation of best external portable SSDs proved to be really useful to each of you. The SSDs listed here are the best combinations of performance, price, and quality. Hopefully, these should meet your computing expectations.
Buyers’ Guide
If you are considering the idea of buying an external portable SSD, and not sure how to differentiate a good gadget from a not-so impressive one, these are a few factors that should help you decide.
Configuration
The most important feature to look for in an external portable SSD are its read/write speed and data transfer rate, which determine how fast the device really is. An SSD which offers a read/write speed that’s more than 2000 MB/s is perfect for gaming and editing 4K videos. It is also important to know what data security features the makers have included
Design
Most SSDs available today are quite sleek and easily fit into pockets, which speaks volumes about their portability. In addition, it is also important to verify whether the device complies with standards such as IP67, which makes it resistant to external damages and shocks.
Price
It is important to assess whether the price being quoted by the manufacturers is worth the configuration being offered. Indulging in a price vs configuration study across SSDs is important to figure the best device.
FAQs
Which is the best external portable SSD?
The notion of a best external portable SSD is quite subjective and may vary drastically across individuals. However, based on our research, the Samsung X5 Portable SSD is one of the best storage devices of its kind available currently. The read and write speeds of 2800 MB/s as well as 2300 MB/s that this SSD offers is easily the highest among devices of its kind.
What are the advantages of SSD over HDD?
SSDs are far more reliable and resistant to shocks and external damages as compared to traditional HDDs. These devices also have less moving parts, which makes them less susceptible to external damages, as well as wear-and-tear. Immobile parts also imply SSDs are much better performers than SSDs
More to read:
Combine SSD and HDD for a Smarter Storage Option
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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